News items up to and including 2023 are shown below –
Wulfrath comes to Ware
Images from the visit are available via the Wulfrath Town Twinning Association website, a translation of their article is below –
“A great trip to Ware – 2023
A comment / Uncategorized / By Otto A.W. Schickenberg
A dozen members and friends of the Friends of Wülfrath’s Town Twinning Association arrived in our twin town in England on Friday afternoon, 14 July 2023. Some came by car, others by train or plane. England welcomed us with rain, but everyone was in high spirits.
The current Mayor of Ware, Thomas Day, and the Board of the Ware Town Twinning Association, together with many members, welcomed us at the Priory of Ware.
The very next day the sun shone for us and everyone got to know our twin town on an extensive walk. We learned that Ware was the centre of malt production for English beer for centuries.
John Wing showed us a former malthouse which is now to be converted into a cultural centre and took us through the history of the town and the maltings in Ware.
We also visited a sports facility, Wodson Park Sports and Leisure Centre, where we learned about a new sport for us, called pickleball, which is currently on the rise in Europe.
Saturday evening took us to another historic building, Place House.
There we enjoyed the typical English fish and chips, which tasted great.
John Sharples, a member of the Ware Town Twinning Association and a professional singer, set the mood for the evening with a selection of songs from the different countries of the United Kingdom.
Mick Standley and Ingo Wünsch accompanied the rest of the evening with well-known songs on their guitars and encouraged almost everyone to sing along.
A special highlight was Barry Parkin on the rhythm board! It was an all-round successful evening with lots of talking, singing and laughing.
The sun was still shining on Sunday, so the visit to Scott’s Grotto, a real sight in Ware, was a joy for everyone.
After the visit to Scott’s Grotto, we gathered once again for a farewell dinner in a typical English pub before we had to say goodbye to our English friends and start our return journey.
For those who knew Ware from previous visits, it was a pleasure to be able to rekindle old acquaintances. For those visiting Ware for the first time, it was a chance to get to know a very pretty English town with friendly residents.
Our special thanks go to the organisers of the weekend, Janet and Barry Parkin and their team, to the hosts who made us feel so welcome and to the President of the Ware Town Twinning Association, Phyllis Ballam, who at her advanced age missed almost none of the activities.”
Visit to Cormeilles and Champagne Area
On the weekend of 26-29 May 2023 eleven of us were guests of the Cormeilles Town Twinning Association. It was a very gastronomic weekend – one of the highlights of which was a visit to the Champagne area on Saturday.
We enjoyed a wonderful lunch sitting under cherry trees in the gardens of a rather grand restaurant in Aÿ, near Épernay – accompanied by champagne and, seemingly, limitless wine.
Lunch was followed by a tour and exhibition in a local champagne museum ending with tastings of two champagnes, whilst, at the same time, taking in the breathtaking view over a local vineyard.
Back in Cormeilles, another feast was waiting for us that evening at a local restaurant, which the Mayor, M Boëdec, also attended.
On Sunday we were all invited to the home of two of the twinning members where a brunch, taken in their lovely garden, had been organized.
Laurence Méot (pictured below with her husband Thierry), the Chairman of their Town Twinning committee, presented us all with a bottle of champagne to take home – a lovely souvenir of a perfect weekend.
The weekend really captured the essence of twinning. Conversation, humour interesting interchanges. Old friends reconnecting and new friends made.
Forthcoming Visit to Cormeilles, 26-29 May 2023
A visit to Cormeilles-en-Parisis, has been arranged by the Twinning (Jumelage) committee including a day trip to the Champagne area with a tour, a tasting and lunch. Needless to say, those participating in the trip are really looking forward to it. Photos will be posted on this site in due course.
Forthcoming visit to Ware by twinners from Wülfrath, 14-16 July 2023.
The Chairman of their Twinning ( Freundeskreis Städtepartnerschaften) Committee, Otto Schickenberg will be visiting Ware for the first time together with other members of the new committee (some of whom have not previously visited Ware) and members of their Association. We are looking forward to showing them our town.
Photos will be posted on this site in due course.
2023 Swimming Club Gala
Over the Easter holiday, 48 members of Ware Swimming Club visited Wülfrath for their annual swimming gala with their Wülfrath counterpart. The swimmers from Ware stayed with host families; for some this was the start of new friendships but for many it was a reunion with old friends.
The swimming gala followed the same friendly pattern as last year: rather than being a straight contest between the two clubs, several teams competed, each made up from both British and German swimmers. The Red Team won, after a tie-breaker with two other teams.
During the week there were also several outings, including a visit to the impressive Zollverein coal musem in Essen; a trip to the former German capital, Bonn; a day out at the theme park Phantasialand, and a traditional Bergische Kaffeetafel, a kind of German cream tea (but with coffee), held in a classical farmhouse kitchen in the Wülfrath Museum.
Next year will be the turn of the Wülfrath swimmers to visit Ware.
Willi Munch
In March, 2023, members of the Town Twinning Committee were sad to hear from our friends in Wulfrath that our old and valued friend Willi Much had died at the age of 92.
Willi was a 13 year old schoolboy in 1945 when he became friendly with an English RAF Officer who helped him to improve his English and who he helped with his German. As a result of this friendship Willi was invited to England and stayed with the Kerrell-Vaughan family.
When Leo Kerrell Vaughan subsequently became a Councillor this led to the Twinning. Willi worked hard to establish and promote the friendship which exists between our towns and the first official Pledges of Friendship was signed in Ware in 1971. Willi was also one of the instigators of our highly successful annual visits to the Weihnachtsmarkt.
Willi made many visits to Ware over the years and said he felt at home in our “cosy” town. I also recall his fondness for that English delicacy? Marmite.
We sent condolences to his family on behalf of the Town Twinning Committee and members. It was requested that, if wished, donation in memory of Willi should be made to Wulfrath Museum and a donation of 100 euros has been sent.
He will be missed here and in Wulfrath.
Pete Smith 1947 – 2022
A message from our Chairman, Cllr. Phyllis Ballam:
“It is with sadness that I have to tell you that Pete Smith died on Saturday 19th November 2022.
Pete had been seriously ill for some time, but before that, he was an integral part of Town Twinning for many years. He served as Secretary, but above and beyond that he was always available to help in so many ways, particularly with transport to and from airports or railway stations for our members and our visitors from Wülfrath or Cormeilles.
He was always kind, friendly, helpful, and welcoming. He and his wife Christine, to whom we send our deepest sympathy, had also travelled to Wülfrath, and helped on the Christmas Market. He will be greatly missed.”
Wülfrath Christmas Market 2022
The 2022 Christmas market was a great success. Our best year for some time. The new drink “Baby Guinness” went down (literally) very well. It was extremely popular. We had to keep going to the supermarket to replenish stocks. Between now and the 2023 Market we are taking advantage of any special offers we see on Baileys and Kahlua – both in the UK and Germany. We want to be fully prepared!
Visitors from Cormeilles
On the weekend of 18-20 November 2022 we welcomed four guests from Cormeilles – Mme Laurence Méot, President, Cormeilles Twinning;Sonia Baron-Cherault, Deputy President, Cormeilles Twinning; Dominique Meance, Deputy Mayor and TT member, and Sidonie Cussaguet, TT member.
On Saturday,19th, they attended the Civic Dinner of the Ware Town Mayor, Councillor Rishi Ferdinand. On Sunday 20th Nov, Cllr Mark Pope, Deputy Mayor, accompanied the guests to the High Sheriff’s Justice Service and reception in St Albans.
There was also time for some of our members to enjoy a coffee on Saturday with our French friends when future exchanges were discussed.
Watch this space!
Visit to Cormeilles
On the weekend of 11-13 November 2022 John Sharples, President of Ware Bass, was invited to Cormeilles to attend the 20th Anniversary concert of the Swing Parisis Orchestra which was held on Saturday 12 November. Ware Brass was not performing but John made a guest appearance as a vocalist, which was much appreciated by the audience of more than 300. Ware Brass and the Swing Parisis Orchestra have been providing musical entertainment in both twin towns for over ten years now.
New Vice-President
We are pleased to announce that Councillor Phyllis Ballam, the Chairman of the Ware Town Twinning Association has now become one of the Association’s Vice-Presidents,along with Tom and Jean Gilby and Roy Mansfield.
Don Clare, who was also a VP has moved out of Ware and has stood down.
Wülfrath Christmas Market 2022
Ware Town Twinning will again have a stall at the Herzog Wilhelm Markt (HWM) which begins on Friday 25 November and runs through to Sunday 4 December. Ware Town Twinning has been serving sherry at the HWM for more than 40 years, only missing attendance in 2020 when there was no market due to Covid. The popularity of sherry doesn’t seem to diminish but we now also serve other drinks. These include whisky, Gaelic coffee, ginger wine and Whisky Mac. Our Ware-Wulf is a special warm cocktail of honey and whisky topped with whipped cream and drops of raspberry syrup – representing blood. Incidentally, “werewolf” translates into German as “Werwolf”. This year we’re going to see if the punters like Baby Guinness – Kahlua topped with Baileys.
Wülrath Town Twinning Association
At the 2022 AGM of the Association a new committee was formed.
The Chairman is Herr Otto Schickenberg. The Committee seems very proactive and is planning to increase awareness and membership. To this end they will have a presence at the 2022 Christmas market. On Saturday 3 December they have also planned an Advent Concert, in conjunction with the Young Voices group, where English, French and German specialities will be served.Leave a commentEdit”Latest news”
2022 Swimming Gala Ware-Wülfrath
The 46th Annual Gala between the two towns took pace in Ware.
The swimmers were in Ware from10 April to 15 April.
The gala was held on 13 April at Fanshawe Pool. The Town Mayor, Councillor Ian Kemp and the Chairman of Ware Town Twinning Association, Councillor Phyllis Ballam, were present.
The format was a little different this year since there were not so many actual swimmers from Wülfrath available to take part. Teams were therefore made up of swimmers from both towns.
This worked well and it was a very successful and enjoyable week. Ware has been invited to Wülfrath for the 47th gala in 2023.Leave a commentEdit”2022 Swimming Gala Ware-Wülfrath”
2021 – A Special Anniversary Year for Twinning
Fifty years of twinning with Wülfrath and twenty years of twinning with Cormeilles-en-Parisis will be celebrated on Sunday 19 September.
A joint celebration in Ware was initially planned but, because of disruption to travel plans due to Covid, unfortunately this will not now be an actual event as we had originally hoped, and will instead take place by Zoom.
The Town Council is arranging a virtual renewal of the Pledge of Friendship with the two towns. This will include speeches by the three Mayors and musical interludes from each of the three towns – Ware’s contribution being provided by Ware Brass.
There is also an exhibition running at Ware Museum until 24th November 2021 which is well worth a visit. Check here for museum opening times.
AGM – Tuesday 22 June, 7.30pm.
In the Priory, we hope! If not, by zoom. Confirmation of location will be issued asap.
We hope to see as many of you there as possible.
The present committee – Councilor Phyllis Ballam, Chairman; Pete and Chris Smith, Joint Secretaries; Dennis Day; James Jarvis; Barry Parkin, Treasurer; Janet Parkin, and Mick Standley are all willing to stand again for re-election to the committee. However, more committee members will be welcome. If you would like to be considered please contact Pete Smith (pjs@pjseng.co.uk) before 21 June.
Swimming & Twinning!
There is a long tradition of friendship between Ware Swimming Club and TB Wülfrath Schwimmen from our Twin Town of Wülfrath.
An annual Swimming Gala takes place during the Easter holiday, with the two Clubs alternating visits to each other’s towns. It was the turn of TB Wülfrath to visit Ware this year, however, this was not to be due to Covid-19.
The Clubs decided the way forward would be to virtually travel to the opposite town, covering the 623 kilometres distance in their own town, by foot or bike. After the first two days it was close – Wülfrath had covered 366km and Ware were narrowly in the lead with 370.90km. Ware has been in winning mode recently, however, it was not to be for 2021 as TB Wülfrath were the first to complete the distance, despite some heavy snowfall.
There were plans for a virtual Friday night get together to celebrate the event – we don’t know how late it went on!
Congratulations to TB Wülfrath on their 2021 win and to both Clubs for keeping this long standing friendship alive.
There’s a great video snapshot on the Ware Swimming Club Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/WARESWIMMINGCLUB
2021 – A Special Anniversary Year for Twinning
This year sees the 50th Anniversary of twinning with Wülfrath and the 20th Anniversary of twinning with Cormeilles-en-Parisis. A joint celebration with all three towns is planned in Ware for the weekend of 17-19 September. Both Mayors, Herr Rainer Ritsche of Wülfrath, and M Yannick Boedec of Cormeilles, have accepted invitations to attend.
The official re-signing of the Pledges of Friendship will take place at the Priory on Sunday morning 19 September. Further details will be published here in due course.
An exhibition to coincide with the above will be held in Ware museum from 4th September to 24th November.Leave a commentEdit”2021 – A Special Anniversary Year for Twinning”
Updates from October & November
Goodbye to an old friend
Heinrich Meckenstock 14 October 1940 – 12 October 2020
We are sad to report that Heinrich Meckenstock, one time President of the Town Twinning Association in Wülfrath died on 12 October just before his 80th birthday.
Heinrich was a firm supporter of Town Twinning and the friendship between the two towns meant a lot to him. He was a regular visitor to Ware – his first visit being as a town Councillor representing Wülfrath in 1974. He will be greatly missed . He always helped with setting up Ware’s stall/hut at the Christmas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt) and with dismantling it too. He would then transport all our equipment in his trailer to the Museum where it was stored until the next year’s market. He was also a great help during the market, providing us with replacement gas cylinders for the hut heater, for example.
Message from Claudia Panke, Burgermeisterin, Wülfrath 2009-2020
After eleven years, my term in office as mayor of Wülfrath ends on October 31st, 2020, and I will start a new chapter in my life. It is therefore time to say goodbye.
I would like to sincerely thank you for the fruitful cooperation and the trust I was always met with.
It was my goal to make Wülfrath fit for the future and retain its autonomy. It made me happy and proud to have succeeded at that for my hometown and its people, the local businesses as well as clubs, societies and institutions. I look back at a time shaped by constructive exchange and many positive experiences, but especially mutual respect and appreciation.
I will remain connected to our town twinning and the Freundeskreis Städtepartnerschaft.
Therefore I would appreciate if we could stay in touch.
I wish you all the best for your future professional and private ventures!
New Mayor, Wülfrath
The new Burgermeister/Mayor of Wülfrath is Herr Rainer Ritsche. We wish him well and look forward to meeting him in Ware in 2021.
Two forthcoming significant anniversaries
2021 will see two significant anniversaries:
50 years of twinning with Wülfrath and 20 years of twinning with Cormeilles-en-Parisis. We hope to celebrate these in Ware in September. Watch this space!
Exhibition in Ware Museum
An exhibition to commemorate the anniversaries mentioned above is planned to be held in Ware Museum, to run from mid-September 2021 for at least three months. More details to follow in due course.Leave a commentEdit
Ros Standley
Some of you will have already heard this sad news – I am sorry to have to report that Roz died yesterday of a heart attack. As you know, Ros was our current Vice Chairman and will be greatly missed.
She was also a past Town Mayor and a member of East Herts District Council.
She was very well known in the town and involved with several local organisations including Age Concern of which she was the current President. Ros was a former member of the Friends of Ware Priory committee representing the Priory Trustees.Leave a commentEdit”Ros Standley”
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